FE Inclusive Finance Conclave 2025: Top thinkers to discuss bridging gaps, empowering communities, driving economic progress

India’s goal to Viksit Bharat cannot be achieved without financial inclusion. Enabling formal access to financial services is more than just about banking – it is about building ecosystem for businesses, entrepreneurs and individuals to unlock new opportunities. Even as financial inclusion in India has seen visible progress, a section of the population and businesses still struggle with access to formal credit, online banking and important financial tools. Addressing this concern is critical for sustained economic growth. 

As India aims to become a $5 trillion economy, an inclusive financial ecosystem will have a key role to play. Boosting digital financial infrastructure, fostering financial literacy, and growing credit accessibility would the primary pillars to unleash India’s true entrepreneurial spirit. Hence, it is important to realise that the time to act is now as inclusive finance would India achieve inclusive prosperity. 

In light of this, the second edition of the inclusive finance conclave is being organised by the Financial Express Digital and FE Aspire. The FE Inclusive Finance Conclave 2025: Breaking Barriers, Building Futures will initiate discussions on removing the barriers to financial inclusion and accelerating growth at the last mile. 

The conclave will begin with a Special Address by Ateesh Singh, Joint Secretary, Ministry of MSME, sharing the government’s vision for financial inclusion, policy interventions to strengthen businesses, and future roadmaps for ensuring widespread accessibility to financial resources. 

The government has already taken measures such as Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) and MUDRA scheme to improve efficiency in welfare distribution, reducing leakages and ensuring funds reach the right beneficiaries. Moreover, the growth of India Stack and UPI-based digital transactions has boosted financial infrastructure, enabling banking services to be more accessible and affordable. 

Following the Special Address would be four panel discussions focusing on four broad yet pertinent areas in the realm of financial inclusion. The first panel title Financial Inclusion for Unbanked & Underbanked: Easing Accessibility to Right Financial Products will see conversations around measures to take financial inclusion for businesses and individuals to the last mile. 

The speakers for the panel would be Manoj Mittal, Chairman & Managing Director, Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI); Manu Sehgal, CEO, Brickwork Ratings; Sachin Seth, Regional Managing Director, India and South Asia, CRIF SpA; and Sharon Buteau, Executive Director, LEAD at Krea University. 

The discussion would explore need for a multi-pronged approach, including digital innovation, simplified processes, and targeted financial literacy programs. Moreover, how customizing financial products can help in relevance and usability will also be part of the discussion. 

Given the transformative role of Digital public infrastructure (DPI) in helping with seamless access to banking, payments and credit services, the second panel Digital Public Infrastructure: Enhancing effective utilisation of digital services will dive deep into the interoperability factor between banks, fintechs, and government schemes for last-mile connectivity to boost financial inclusion.  

Moreover, the panel would also discuss the importance of lowering transaction costs, improving identity verification, and facilitating real-time digital payments to drive economic participation and financial resilience on a large scale. 

The speakers for the second panel would be Brijendra Kumar, Partner and Lead, Government Technology, KPMG India; Goverdhan S. Rawat, Deputy Managing Director, National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD); and Jiji Mammen, Executive Director & CEO, Sa-Dhan. 

With digital services, the conclave will have focus also on the role of educating individuals and enterprises about financial products available to multiple their growth and expansion. The third panel Financial Education and Literacy: Strategies for Sustainable Growth will stress on the need for awareness of banking services, digital payments, and fraud prevention to help the unbanked confidently engage with formal financial systems.  

Moreover, targeted financial literacy programs, especially for MSMEs, women, and rural communities, can also ensure responsible borrowing and risk management. 

The conclave will conclude with a panel on From Margins to Mainstream: Leveraging Fintech Solutions to Drive Inclusion discussing the crucial role of products offered by fintech companies such as digital wallets, microloans, and blockchain technology in empowering unbanked populations, especially in remote areas.  

The panel will also explore how fintech fosters economic growth by enabling small businesses and individuals to manage finances efficiently. The speakers for the panel would be Jyoti Sharma, CEO, Nasscom Foundation; Seema Prem, CEO & Co-Founder, FIA Global; Souparno Bagchi, Chief Operating Officer, BalanceHero India; Sugandh Saxena, CEO, Fintech Association for Consumer Empowerment (FACE); and Jai Krishnan, Partner and Leader – Financial Services, PwC India.